Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions

The original details in this entry have been heavily edited by a person friendly to the BIPPS organization. This entry, until revised, should be considered biased and self promoting.
The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions (BIPPS) is a poltically right leaning think tank which promotes itself as "an independent research and educational institution offering free-market solutions to Kentucky's most pressing problems." The institute was created and initially funded by Chris Derry, a businessman from Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In many cases the credentials or experiential background of BIPPS content contributors is unknown; and some policy documents have been created by individuals with no direct experience in the field they are critiquing. The site promotes business oriented, anti-labor positions; politically the Institute claims neutrality but the content contributors overwhelming express Republican or Libertarian political interests and issues.


 * Using its website, BIPPS promotes the founding ideas of liberty, free markets, limited government and secure property rights as the basis for the future of public policy in Kentucky.

BIPPS begins all of its research clearly stating its "warranty of scholarship excellence": "The Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions commits itself to delivering commentary and research on Kentucky issues with unquestionable quality and reliability. Thus we guarantee that the information we originate is true and accurate, and the sources from which we quote are accurately represented. We invite you to investigate our work and encourage you to report any material error, inaccuracy or misrepresentation you find. If you do, we will respond to your inquiry in writing. If we have made a mistake, we will prepare an errata sheet and attach it to all future distributions of the particular publication, which will be the complete and final resolution under this warranty." Any person or organization challenging the academic rigor of any of its publications should contact BIPPS at 270-782-2140.*

The organization's website, as of November 2007, averages 1530 unique visitors monthly and focuses predominantly on a Kentucky based audience. The Institute acknowledges the Mackinac Center for Public Policy for assistance with the development of its website.

The largest print media outlet in the state, The Courier Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) has described BIPPS as generally having a "libertarian anti-government negativism"  and downgrades the reliability of its analysis in comparison to the Kentucky Long-Term Policy Research Center. 

Funding
BIPPS is a 501(c)3 non-profit group.

When asked to reveal its sources of funding, BIPPS reports, "We accept contributions from any individual, corporation or foundation on one condition: 'No one tells us what to say or write.'" It relies on the conditions of its 501(c)(3) IRS status as a non-profit corporation and its guarantee of anonymity to its donors as its reasons for not revealing the source of its funding or it member lists. It does not solicit nor accept funding from any government entity. As of January 28, 2008, it employed two people on a full-time basis and contracts with others to acquire their professional services.

On its website BIPPS states that it is "supported through the generous contributions of our members. No government funds are accepted and no contract research is performed." In October 2007 The Courier Journal noted that "the group's spokesman wouldn't tell our reporters the sources of its income or size of its dues-paying membership."

BIPPS 2006 IRS return states that total revenue for the group that year was $356,827.

It also identifies BIPPS total income for earlier years as being $35,650 in 2003, $208,280 in 2004 and $277,865 in 2005.

In its 2006 annual report the libertarian Cato Institute states that it contributed $50,000 to the Bluegrass Institute.

Personnel

 * Chris Derry, Founder, President and CEO. In BIPPS 2006 IRS return, Derry is listed as working 50 hours a week and was paid $59,999. The report indicates that Derry's time is split 60/40% between fundraising and "management and general."
 * Jim Waters, Director of Policy and Communications
 * Rick Loghry, Vice-Chairman
 * Kathy Gornik, Board Chairman
 * George Sowards, Board Secretary
 * Rich Gimmel, Director
 * Matthias Tobin, Director
 * Don Bowles, Director
 * Warren Rogers, Director

BIPPS's first IRS return for 2003 listed Derry as the unpaid President and CEO and Morris L. Grubbs and Tommy Adams as directors.

BIPPS does not provide a complete staff list but its 2006 IRS return identifies $132,872 being spent on "salaries and wages of employees" in addition to that of Derry's.

Contact details
Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions 400 E. Main Avenue, Suite 306 P.O. Box 51147 Bowling Green, KY 42102 USA Phone: (270) 782-2140 Fax: (305) 675-0220 Website: http://www.bipps.org

SourceWatch resources

 * Think tanks